Polynucleotides and Polypeptides Encoding Receptors

ABSTRACT

Receptor polypeptides and polynucleotides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing receptor polypeptides and polynucleotides in the design of protocols for the treatment of diseases and diagnostic assays for such conditions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/832,019, filed Aug. 1, 2007, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/041,419, filed Jan. 25, 2005 (now abandoned), which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/156,136, filed May 29, 2002 (now abandoned), which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/764,452, filed Jan. 19, 2001 (now abandoned), which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/010,146, filed Jan. 21, 1998 (now abandoned), which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of provisional Application No. 60/034,204, filed Jan. 21, 1997 and provisional Application No. 60/034,205, filed Jan. 21, 1997; each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 1.77(B)(4)

This application refers to a “Sequence Listing” listed below, which is provided as a text document. The document is entitled “PF354C5_SequenceList.txt” (112,340 bytes, created Apr. 14, 2009), and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Receptor proteins are found on the membrane of the cells and are generally involved in signal transduction. There are many types of receptor proteins, and for convenience, these proteins are grouped in families based on similarity in structure and function.

For example, the TM4SF superfamily of cell surface proteins, also known as the tetraspan receptor superfamily, is comprised of at least seventeen individual gene products (these include CD9, CD20, CD37, CD53, CD63, CD81, CD82, A15, CO-029, Sm23, RDS, Uro B, Uro A, SAS, Rom-1, PETA3, and YKK8). The TM4SF superfamily is the second largest group in the CD antigen superfamily. Each member of the TM4SF superfamily can be characterized by several putative physical features including four highly conserved transmembrane domains, two divergent extracellular loops, and two short and highly divergent cytoplasmic tails. Expression patterns for members of the TM4SF superfamily tend to be rather broad and can vary widely between members. The functional roles of TM4SF superfamily members are primarily associated with signal transduction events and pathways, but also include cell adhesion in platelets and other lymphocytic and non-lymphocytic cell lines, as well as cell motility, proliferation, and metastasis. In addition, recent evidence suggests that a subset of the members of the TM4SF superfamily may function as potassium channel molecules.

One member of the TM4SF family, CD20, is a four membrane spanning domain cell surface phosphoprotein expressed exclusively on B lymphocytes. Although the precise functional role of CD20 has yet to be determined, it is thought to function primarily as a receptor during B-cell activation. Furthermore, a large number of experimental observations suggest several additional speculative roles for the CD20 molecule. For example, CD20-specific immunoprecipitation of biochemically cross-linked plasma membrane proteins suggests that CD20 assumes a multimeric structural conformation characteristic of other previously described membrane channel proteins. Further experimentation has revealed that expression of exogenous CD20 on the cell surface specifically increases Ca²⁺ conductance across the plasma membrane. Together, these results suggest that CD20 complexes may function as B-cell specific Ca²⁺ ion channels. In addition, monoclonal antibodies raised against CD20 have been used to stimulate resting B-cells to transition out of the G0/G1 segment of the cell cycle. It has also been demonstrated that CD20 is associated with both serine and tyrosine kinases and, more specifically, that CD20 is associated, although not directly, with the Src family of tyrosine kinases including p56/53lyn, p56lck, and p59fyn.

A second example of a receptor subfamily, called sialoadhesin molecules, belongs to the Ig superfamily of receptor-like molecules. The more than 100 members of the Ig superfamily are generally considered to engage in specific cell-cell interactions through which intercellular communication may occur. In addition to classical protein-protein interactions, intercellular communication may also be mediated through protein-carbohydrate interactions. In fact, all members of the sialoadhesin family of the Ig superfamily are capable of mediating protein-sialic acid binding interactions. To date, only a small number of proteins have been assigned to the sialoadhesin family including sialoadhesin, CD33, CD22, the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), and the Schwann cell myelin protein (SMP). Each of these proteins is expressed in a restricted subset of cell types. For example, CD22 and CD33 are expressed exclusively by B-lymphocytes and cells of the myelomonocytic lineage, respectively.

Similarly, galectins are a family of the lectin superfamily of carbohydrate-binding proteins which have a high affinity for b-galactoside sugars. Although a large number of glycoproteins containing b-galactoside sugars are produced by the cell, only a few will bind to known galectins in vitro. Such apparent binding specificity suggests a highly specific functional role for the galectins. Galectin 1 (conventionally termed LGALS1 for lectin, galactoside-binding, soluble −1) is thought to specifically bind laminin, a highly polylactosaminated cellular glycoprotein, as well as the highly polylactosaminated lysosome-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs). Galectin 1 has also been shown to bind specifically to a lactosamine-containing glycolipid found on olfactory neurons and to integrin a₇b₁ on skeletal muscle cells. Galectin 3 has also been observed to bind specifically to laminin, immunoglobulin E and its receptor, and bacterial lipopolysaccharides.

Various galectins have been shown to function in the mechanisms of intercellular communication. For example, depending on cell type, galectin 1 has been observed to modulate cell adhesion either positively or negatively. More specifically, galectin 1 appears to inhibit cell adhesion of skeletal muscle presumably by galectin 1-mediated disruption of laminin-integrin a₇b₁ interactions. Alternatively, galectin 1 appears to promote cell adhesion in several non-skeletal muscle cell types examined presumably by a glycoconjugate cross-linking mechanism. Galectin 3 has also been observed to function in modulating cell-adhesion, as well as in the activation of certain immune cells by cross-linking IgE and IgE receptors. In addition, galectins have been observed to be involved in the regulation of immune cell activity, as well as in such diverse processes as cell adhesion, proliferation, inflammation, autoimmunity, and metastasis of tumor cells. Furthermore, a galectin-like antigen designated HOM-HD-21 was recently found to be highly expressed in a Hodgkin's Disease cDNA library. Very recently, a novel galectin, termed PCTA-1, was identified as a specific cell surface marker on human prostate cancer cell lines and patient-derived carcinomas. Galectins have also been found to function intracellularly as a component of ribonucleoprotein complexes. Finally, galectins 1 and 3 have each been found to modulate T-cell growth and apoptosis by interaction with CD45 and possibly Bcl2, respectively.

A relatively new family of cell-surface proteins has been identified and termed the Ly6 superfamily. The members of this family include murine and human SCA-2, rat Ly-6 (also termed ThB), human CD59 [also known as protectin or membrane attack complex inhibition factor (MACIF)], and E48 antigen. The determination of an initial functional role for SCA-2 may lie in an analysis of its expression profile with regard to the complex process of hematopoiesis. SCA-2 is highly expressed in early thymic precusor cells. In turn, progeny of the intrathymic precusor population continue to express SCA-2, but only until the point of transition occurs from blast cell to small cell. Further experimental evidence demonstrates that mature thymocytes and peripheral T-cells do not express detectable levels of SCA-2, whereas mature, peripheral B-cells do continue to express SCA-2. As a result, it seems very likely that SCA-2 plays an important role in thymocyte maturation and differentiation. A plausible explanation for this functional hypothesis is that SCA-2 may act as a receptor for a unknown cytokine which regulates thymocyte maturation and differentiation.

In addition, CD59 is a recently identified integral membrane protein which appears to be involved in the regulation of complement. Recent studies show that the CD59 antigen may prevent damage from complement C5b-9 and protect astrocytes during inflammatory and infectious disorders of the nervous system. Expression of recombinant human CD59 on porcine donor organs have been shown to prevent complement-mediated lysis and activation of endothelial cells that leads to hyperacute rejection. Recently, researchers at Alexion Pharmaceuticals (New Haven, Conn.) reported on the production of transgenic pigs which expressed human CD59. In these animals, xenogeneic organs were resistant to hyperacute rejection. (Fodor, et al., “Expression of a functional human complement inhibitor in a transgenic pig as a model for the prevention of xenogeneic hyperacute organ rejection,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 91:1153-11157 (1994).) The same company also reported that expression of recombinant transmembrane CD59 in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) B-cells confers resistance to human complement. (Rother et al., “Expression of recombinant transmembrane CD59 in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria B-cells confers resistance to human complement,” Blood, 84:2604-2611 (1994).) PNH is an acquired hematopoietic disorder characterized by complement-mediated hemolytic anemia, pancytopenia, and venous thrombosis. It is thought that retroviral gene therapy with this molecule could provide a treatment for PNH patients.

A final Ly6 superfamily member, the E48 antigen, is involved in intercellular adhesion between keratinocyte cells of the squamous epithelium. Such keratinocytes are attached to adjoining cells by large numbers of desmosomes, which are thought to play a role in the transition of transformed keratinocytes to metastatic tumor cells. Treatment with a monoclonal antibody raised against the E48 antigen has been successful in the eradication of residual, postoperative squamous cell carcinoma cells of the upper aerodigestive tract in several in vivo models and, to some degree, in humans. (van Dongen, et al., “Progress in radioimmunotherapy of head and neck cancer,” Oncol. Rep. 1:259-264 (1994).) The gene encoding the E48 antigen has been mapped to the q24-qter region of human chromosome 8. Interestingly, a number of human diseases have been mapped to this region of chromosome 8 including Langer-Giedion syndrome, brachio-otorhinolaryngeal syndrome, trichorhinolaryngeal syndrome, and epidermolysis bullosa simplex.

A further example of a receptor family includes the prohibitin receptors. The prohibitin gene product is expressed in a wide variety of tissues and has been implicated as a component of a number of anti-proliferative mechanisms. The prohibitin gene encodes a 30 kD postsynthetically modified polypeptide located primarily in the mitochondria, but also may be associated with the IgM receptor on the B-cell plasma membrane. The protein functionally inhibits DNA synthesis and entry into S phase of the cell cycle by an unknown mechanism. Interestingly, although the prohibitin gene product is hypothesized to be involved in the maintenance of senescence and the prevention of cancer, one study found that, although somatic mutations in the prohibitin gene were present in a small number of breast cancers, no mutations were identified in any other breast, ovary, liver, and lung cancers examined. (Sato et al., Genomics 17:762-764 (1993).) However, the prohibitin gene has been mapped to human chromosome 17q12-21, the same region thought to contain the gene involved in sporadic breast cancer. Furthermore, DNA sequence analysis of the prohibitin gene identified somatic mutation in 4 of 23 cases of sporadic breast cancer examined. Thus, prohibitin family members may be involved in the development of cancer.

Moreover, the EGFR family of plasma membrane proteins are an integral component of normal cellular proliferation and in the pathogenesis of the cancerous state. The family is relatively small and includes the EGFR, c-erbB-2, c-erbB-3, and others. Various cancers are correlated with aberrant expression of one or more of these genes. A number of ligands have been identified which bind to the EGFR-like receptors listed above including TGF-a, heparin-binding EGF, amphiregulin, criptoregulin, heregulin, and others. A large fraction of adenocarcinomas examined to date, especially those of the breast, colon, and pancreas, are typified by the amplification or overexpression of the c-erbB-2 gene. EGF, or an analogous ligand, initiates the cellular growth factor response by binding to the EGFR, or EGFR-related, receptor. Following the binding event, the receptor molecule dimerizes activating its intracellular tyrosine kinase domain. This event results in the phosphorylation of specific tyrosine residues near the carboxy terminus of the receptor. The diversity of signals able to be transduced through the relatively small number of EGFR-related receptor molecules is amplified considerably by the recent finding that EGFR-like receptor molecules can function when dimerized with other EGFR family members forming heterodimers.

Members of the EGFR-related family of integral membrane proteins have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of human disease-states. For example, a mutation in the EGFR itself appears to play an important role in the development of glioblastomas. (Sang et al., J. Neurosurg 82:841-846 (1995).) The EGFR gene is amplified or overexpressed in the majority of primary human glioblastomas. Although not conferTing a distinct advantage on cell growth, an increase in EGFR expression was found to confer an increase in the ability of glioma cells to maintain anchorage-independent growth in soft agar especially in response to EGF and retinoic acid. Anchorage-independent growth in vitro correlates highly with tumorigenicity in vivo, therefore, it is likely that cells which express abnormally high levels of EGFR in human glioblastoma cells may be involved in the high potential for these cells to cause tumors in vivo.

Moreover, overexpression or amplification of c-erbB-2 has been reported to be involved in a high number adenocarcinomas, particularly of the breast, colon, and pancreas, and in a small proportion of ovarian carcinomas.

Thus, there is a clear need for identifying and exploiting novel members of the receptor families, such as those described above. Although structurally related, these receptors will likely possess diverse and multifaceted functions in a variety of cell and tissue types. Receptor type molecules should prove useful in target based screens for small molecules and other such pharmacologically valuable factors. Monoclonal antibodies raised against such receptors may prove useful as therapeutics in an anti-tumor, diagnostic, or other capacity. Furthermore, receptors described here may prove useful in an active or passive immunotherapeutical role in patients with cancer or other immunocompromised disease states.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to newly identified polynucleotides and the polypeptides encoded by them, the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides, and their production. More particularly, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention relate to specific receptor families described in the specification and known in the art. The invention also relates to inhibiting or activating the action of such polynucleotides and polypeptides.

In one aspect, the invention relates to receptor polypeptides and polynucleotides, as well as the methods for their production. Another aspect of the invention relates to methods for using such receptor polypeptides and polynucleotides. Such uses include the treatment of the specified diseases, among others. In still another aspect, the invention relates to methods to identify agonists and antagonists using the materials provided by the invention, and treating conditions associated with receptor imbalance with the identified compounds. Yet another aspect of the invention relates to diagnostic assays for detecting diseases associated with inappropriate receptor activity or levels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A-1B shows an amino acid sequence alignment of Clone ID HMACR70 (SEQ ID NO:18) versus OB-1 (SEQ ID NO:33) (shaded boxes indicate identical amino acid residues, non-shaded boxes indicate conservative substitutions).

FIG. 2 shows an amino acid sequence alignment of Clone ID HTEDK48 (SEQ ID NO:19) versus MRC-OX44 (SEQ ID NO:34) and PETA-3 (SEQ ID NO:35) (shaded boxes indicate identical amino acid residues, non-shaded boxes indicate conservative substitutions).

FIG. 3 shows an amino acid sequence alignment of Clone ID HPWAE25 (SEQ ID NO:20) versus NAG-2 (SEQ ID NO:36) and TALLA-1 (SEQ ID NO:37) (shaded boxes indicate identical amino acid residues, non-shaded boxes indicate conservative substitutions).

FIG. 4 shows an amino acid sequence alignment of Clone ID HTPEF86 (SEQ ID NO:21) versus B1 (SEQ ID NO:38) (shaded boxes indicate identical amino acid residues, non-shaded boxes indicate conservative substitutions).

FIG. 5 shows an amino acid sequence alignment of Clone ID HSBBF02 (SEQ ID NO:22) versus TALLA-1 (SEQ ID NO:37) (shaded boxes indicate identical amino acid residues, non-shaded boxes indicate conservative substitutions).

FIG. 6 shows an amino acid sequence alignment of Clone ID HLTAH80 (SEQ ID NO:23) versus TALLA-1 (SEQ ID NO:37) (shaded boxes indicate identical amino acid residues, non-shaded boxes indicate conservative substitutions).

FIG. 7 shows an amino acid sequence alignment of Clone ID HTPBA27 (SEQ ID NO:24) versus NAG-2 (SEQ ID NO:36) (shaded boxes indicate identical amino acid residues, non-shaded boxes indicate conservative substitutions).

FIG. 8 shows an amino acid sequence alignment of Clone ID HAIDQ59 (SEQ ID NO:25) versus CD9 (SEQ ID NO:39) (shaded boxes indicate identical amino acid residues, non-shaded boxes indicate conservative substitutions).

FIG. 9 shows an amino acid sequence alignment of Clone ID HHFEK40 (SEQ ID NO:26) versus PETA-3 (SEQ ID NO:35) (shaded boxes indicate identical amino acid residues, non-shaded boxes indicate conservative substitutions).

FIG. 10 shows an amino acid sequence alignment of Clone ID HGBGV89 (SEQ ID NO:27) versus L6H (SEQ ID NO:40) (shaded boxes indicate identical amino acid residues, non-shaded boxes indicate conservative substitutions).

FIG. 11 shows an amino acid sequence alignment of Clone ID HUVBB80 (SEQ ID NO:28) versus L6 (SEQ ID NO:41) (shaded boxes indicate identical amino acid residues, non-shaded boxes indicate conservative substitutions).

FIG. 12 shows an amino acid sequence alignment of Clone ID HJACE54 (SEQ ID NO:29) versus rGALECTIN-5 (SEQ ID NO:42) and hGALECTIN-8 (SEQ ID NO:43) (shaded boxes indicate identical amino acid residues, non-shaded boxes indicate conservative substitutions).

FIG. 13 shows an amino acid sequence alignment of Clone ID HROAD63 (SEQ ID NO:30) versus E48 (SEQ ID NO:44) (shaded boxes indicate identical amino acid residues, non-shaded boxes indicate conservative substitutions).

FIG. 14 shows an amino acid sequence alignment of Clone ID HMWGS46 (SEQ ID NO:31) versus B-cell Receptor Associated Protein (shaded boxes indicate identical amino acid residues, non-shaded boxes indicate conservative substitutions).

FIG. 15 shows an amino acid sequence alignment of Clone ID HNFGW06 (SEQ ID NO:32) versus EGFR (SEQ ID NO:46) (shaded boxes indicate identical amino acid residues, non-shaded boxes indicate conservative substitutions).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

The following definitions are provided to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently herein.

“Receptor” refers, among others, to a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:Y, or an allelic variant thereof.

“Receptor Activity” or “Biological Activity of the Receptor” refers to the metabolic or physiologic function of said receptor including similar activities or improved activities or these activities with decreased undesirable side-effects. Also included are antigenic and immunogenic activities of said receptor.

“Receptor gene” refers to a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:X or allelic variants thereof and/or their complements.

“SEQ ID NO:X” comprises all or a substantial portion of the polynucleotide encoding each receptor of the invention. The value X for the nucleotide sequence is an integer specified in Table 1. This nucleotide sequence was translated into the receptor polypeptide identified in Table 1 as “SEQ ID NO:Y,” where the value of Y for each receptor polypeptide is an integer defined in Table 1.

The invention further provides a composition of matter comprising a nucleic acid molecule which comprises a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone ID (Identifier) in Table 1, which DNA molecule is contained in the material deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (“ATCC”) and given the ATCC Deposit Number shown in Table 1 for that cDNA clone. The ATCC is located at American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 12301 Park Lawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852, USA. The deposit has been made under the terms of the Budapest Treaty on the international recognition of the deposit of micro-organisms for purposes of patent procedure. The strain will be irrevocably and without restriction or condition released to the public upon the issuance of a patent. The deposit is provided merely as convenience to those of skill in the art and is not an admission that a deposit is required for enablement, such as that required under 35 U.S.C. § 112. The nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotides contained in the deposited material, as well as the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide encoded thereby, are controlling in the event of any conflict with any description of sequences herein.

“Antibodies” as used herein includes polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, chimeric, single chain, and humanized antibodies, as well as Fab fragments, including the products of an Fab or other immunoglobulin expression library.

“Isolated” means altered “by the hand of man” from the natural state. If an “isolated” composition or substance occurs in nature, it has been changed or removed from its original environment, or both. For example, a polynucleotide or a polypeptide naturally present in a living animal is not “isolated,” but the same polynucleotide or polypeptide separated from the coexisting materials of its natural state is “isolated”, as the term is employed herein.

“Polynucleotide” generally refers to any polyribonucleotide or polydeoxyribonucleotide, which may be unmodified RNA or DNA or modified RNA or DNA. “Polynucleotides” include, without limitation single- and double-stranded DNA, DNA that is a mixture of single- and double-stranded regions, single- and double-stranded RNA, and RNA that is mixture of single- and double-stranded regions, hybrid molecules comprising DNA and RNA that may be single-stranded or, more typically, double-stranded or a mixture of single- and double-stranded regions. In addition, “polynucleotide” refers to triple-stranded regions comprising RNA or DNA or both RNA and DNA. The term polynucleotide also includes DNAs or RNAs containing one or more modified bases and DNAs or RNAs with backbones modified for stability or for other reasons. “Modified” bases include, for example, tritylated bases and unusual bases such as inosine. A variety of modifications has been made to DNA and RNA; thus, “polynucleotide” embraces chemically, enzymatically or metabolically modified forms of polynucleotides as typically found in nature, as well as the chemical forms of DNA and RNA characteristic of viruses and cells. “Polynucleotide” also embraces relatively short polynucleotides, often referred to as oligonucleotides.

“Polypeptide” refers to any peptide or protein comprising two or more amino acids joined to each other by peptide bonds or modified peptide bonds, i.e., peptide isosteres. “Polypeptide” refers to both short chains, commonly referred to as peptides, oligopeptides or oligomers, and to longer chains, generally referred to as proteins. Polypeptides may contain amino acids other than the 20 gene-encoded amino acids. “Polypeptides” include amino acid sequences modified either by natural processes, such as posttranslational processing, or by chemical modification techniques which are well known in the art. Such modifications are well described in basic texts and in more detailed monographs, as well as in a voluminous research literature. Modifications can occur anywhere in a polypeptide, including the peptide backbone, the amino acid side-chains and the amino or carboxyl termini. It will be appreciated that the same type of modification may be present in the same or varying degrees at several sites in a given polypeptide. Also, a given polypeptide may contain many types of modifications. Polypeptides may be branched as a result of ubiquitination, and they may be cyclic, with or without branching. Cyclic, branched and branched cyclic polypeptides may result from posttranslation natural processes or may be made by synthetic methods. Modifications include acetylation, acylation, ADP-ribosylation, amidation, covalent attachment of flavin, covalent attachment of a heme moiety, covalent attachment of a nucleotide or nucleotide derivative, covalent attachment of a lipid or lipid derivative, covalent attachment of phosphotidylinositol, cross-linking, cyclization, disulfide bond formation, demethylation, formation of covalent cross-links, formation of cystine, formation of pyroglutamate, formylation, gamma-carboxylation, glycosylation, GPI anchor formation, hydroxylation, iodination, methylation, myristoylation, oxidation, proteolytic processing, phosphorylation, prenylation, racemization, selenoylation, sulfation, transfer-RNA mediated addition of amino acids to proteins such as arginylation, and ubiquitination. (See, for instance, PROTEINS—STRUCTURE AND MOLECULAR PROPERTIES, 2nd Ed., T. E. Creighton, W. H. Freeman and Company, New York, 1993 and Wold, F., Posttranslational Protein Modifications: Perspectives and Prospects, pgs. 1-12 in POSTTRANSLATIONAL COVALENT MODIFICATION OF PROTEINS, B. C. Johnson, Ed., Academic Press, New York, 1983; Seifter et al., “Analysis for protein modifications and nonprotein cofactors”, Meth Enzymol (1990) 182:626-646 and Rattan et al., “Protein Synthesis: Posttranslational Modifications and Aging”, Ann NY Acad Sci (1992) 663:48-62.)

“Variant” as the term is used herein, is a polynucleotide or polypeptide that differs from a reference polynucleotide or polypeptide respectively, but retains essential properties. A typical variant of a polynucleotide differs in nucleotide sequence from another, reference polynucleotide. Changes in the nucleotide sequence of the variant may or may not alter the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide encoded by the reference polynucleotide. Nucleotide changes may result in amino acid substitutions, additions, deletions, fusions and truncations in the polypeptide encoded by the reference sequence, as discussed below. A typical variant of a polypeptide differs in amino acid sequence from another, reference polypeptide. Generally, differences are limited so that the sequences of the reference polypeptide and the variant are closely similar overall and, in many regions, identical. A variant and reference polypeptide may differ in amino acid sequence by one or more substitutions, additions, deletions in any combination. A substituted or inserted amino acid residue may or may not be one encoded by the genetic code. A variant of a polynucleotide or polypeptide may be a naturally occurring such as an allelic variant, or it may be a variant that is not known to occur naturally. Non-naturally occurring variants of polynucleotides and polypeptides may be made by mutagenesis techniques or by direct synthesis.

“Identity” is a measure of the identity of nucleotide sequences or amino acid sequences. In general, the sequences are aligned so that the highest order match is obtained. “Identity” per se has an art-recognized meaning and can be calculated using published techniques. (See, e.g.: COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Lesk, A. M., ed., Oxford University Press, New York, 1988; BIOCOMPUTING: INFORMATICS AND GENOME PROJECTS, Smith, D. W., ed., Academic Press, New York, 1993; COMPUTER ANALYSIS OF SEQUENCE DATA, PART I, Griffin, A. M., and Griffin, H. G., eds., Humana Press, New Jersey, 1994; SEQUENCE ANALYSIS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, von Heinje, G., Academic Press, 1987; and SEQUENCE ANALYSIS PRIMER, Gribskov, M. and Devereux, J., eds., M Stockton Press, New York, 1991.) While there exist a number of methods to measure identity between two polynucleotide or polypeptide sequences, the term “identity” is well known to skilled artisans. (Carillo, H., and Lipton, D., SIAM J Applied Math (1988) 48:1073.) Methods commonly employed to determine identity or similarity between two sequences include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in Guide to Huge Computers, Martin J. Bishop, ed., Academic Press, San Diego, 1994, and Carillo, H., and Lipton, D., SIAM J Applied Math (1988) 48:1073. Methods to determine identity and similarity are codified in computer programs. Preferred computer program methods to determine identity and similarity between two sequences include, but are not limited to, GCS program package (Devereux, J., et al., Nucleic Acids Research (1984) 12(1):387), BLASTP, BLASTN, FASTA (Atschul, S. F. et al., J Molec Biol (1990) 215:403.)

As an illustration, by a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence having at least, for example, 95% “identity” to a reference nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X is intended that the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotide is identical to the reference sequence except that the polynucleotide sequence may include tip to five point mutations per each 100 nucleotides of the reference nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: X. In other words, to obtain a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a reference nucleotide sequence, up to 5% of the nucleotides in the reference sequence may be deleted or substituted with another nucleotide, or a number of nucleotides up to 5% of the total nucleotides in the reference sequence may be inserted into the reference sequence. These mutations of the reference sequence may occur at the 5′ or 3′ terminal positions of the reference nucleotide sequence or anywhere between those terminal positions, interspersed either individually among nucleotides in the reference sequence or in one or more contiguous groups within the reference sequence.

Similarly, by a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence having at least, for example, 95% “identity” to a reference amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y is intended that the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide is identical to the reference sequence except that the polypeptide sequence may include up to five amino acid alterations per each 100 amino acids of the reference amino acid of SEQ ID NO:Y. In other words, to obtain a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a reference amino acid sequence, up to 5% of the amino acid residues in the reference sequence may be deleted or substituted with another amino acid, or a number of amino acids up to 5% of the total amino acid residues in the reference sequence may be inserted into the reference sequence. These alterations of the reference sequence may occur at the amino or carboxy terminal positions of the reference amino acid sequence or anywhere between those terminal positions, interspersed either individually among residues in the reference sequence or in one or more contiguous groups within the reference sequence.

Polypeptides of the Invention

In one aspect, the present invention relates to receptor polypeptides (or receptor proteins). The receptor polypeptides include the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y; as well as polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y; and polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence which have at least 80% identity to that of SEQ ID NO:Y over its entire length, and still more preferably at least 90% identity, and even still more preferably at least 95% identity to SEQ ID NO:Y. Furthermore, those with at least 97-99% identity to SEQ ID NO:Y are highly preferred. Also included within receptor polypeptides are polypeptides having the amino acid sequence which have at least 80% identity to the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y over its entire length, and still more preferably at least 90% identity, and even still more preferably at least 95% identity to SEQ ID NO:Y. Furthermore, those with at least 97-99% are highly preferred. Preferably receptor polypeptides exhibit at least one biological activity of the receptor.

The receptor polypeptides may be in the form of the “mature” protein or may be a part of a larger protein such as a fusion protein. It is often advantageous to include an additional amino acid sequence which contains secretory or leader sequences, pro-sequences, sequences which aid in purification such as multiple histidine residues, or an additional sequence for stability during recombinant production.

Fragments of the receptor polypeptides are also included in the invention. A “fragment” is a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that entirely is the same as part, but not all, of the amino acid sequence of the aforementioned receptor polypeptides. As with receptor polypeptides, fragments may be “free-standing,” or comprised within a larger polypeptide of which they form a part or region, most preferably as a single continuous region. Representative examples of polypeptide fragments of the invention, include, for example, fragments from about amino acid number 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-100, and 101 to the end of receptor polypeptide. In this context “about” includes the particularly recited ranges larger or smaller by several, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino acid at either extreme or at both extremes.

Preferred fragments include, for example, truncation polypeptides having the amino acid sequence of receptor polypeptides, except for deletion of a continuous series of residues that includes the amino terminus, or a continuous series of residues that includes the carboxyl terminus or deletion of two continuous series of residues, one including the amino terminus and one including the carboxyl terminus.

Also preferred are fragments characterized by structural or functional domains, such as fragments that comprise alpha-helix and alpha-helix forming regions, beta-sheet and beta-sheet-forming regions, turn and turn-forming regions, coil and coil-forming regions, hydrophilic regions, hydrophobic regions, alpha amphipathic regions, beta amphipathic regions, flexible regions, surface-forming regions, substrate binding region, and high antigenic index regions. The “domains” of each receptor polypeptide are illustrated in the Figures. The Figures compare SEQ ID NO:Y to the closest know homologue. Identical amino acids shared between the two polypeptides are shaded, while conservative amino acid changes are boxed. By examining the regions or amino acids shaded and/or boxed, the skilled artisan can readily identify conserved domains between the two polypeptides. The amino acids sequences of SEQ ID NO:Y falling within these conserved domains are “fragments” and are specifically contemplated by the present invention. Especially preferred is the extracellular domains of a receptor of the invention. Soluble extracellular domains have antagonist activity mediated by competition with a receptor ligand.

Other preferred fragments are biologically active fragments. Biologically active fragments are those that mediate receptor activity, including those with a similar activity or an improved activity, or with a decreased undesirable activity. Also included are those that are antigenic or immunogenic in an animal, especially in a human.

Preferably, all of these polypeptide fragments retain a biological activity of the receptor, including antigenic activity. Variants of the defined sequence and fragments also form part of the present invention. Preferred variants are those that vary from the referents by conservative amino acid substitutions—i.e., those that substitute a residue with another of like characteristics. Typical such substitutions are among Ala, Val, Leu and Ile; among Ser and Thr; among the acidic residues Asp and Glu; among Asn and Gln; and among the basic residues Lys and Arg; or aromatic residues Phe and Tyr. Particularly preferred are variants in which several, 5-10, 1-5, or 1-2 amino acids are substituted, deleted, or added in any combination.

The receptor polypeptides of the invention can be prepared in any suitable manner. Such polypeptides include isolated naturally occurring polypeptides, recombinantly produced polypeptides, synthetically produced polypeptides, or polypeptides produced by a combination of these methods. Means for preparing such polypeptides are well understood in the art.

Polynucleotides of the Invention

Another aspect of the invention relates to receptor polynucleotides. Receptor polynucleotides include isolated polynucleotides which encode the receptor polypeptides and fiagments, and polynucleotides closely related thereto. More specifically, a receptor polynucleotide of the invention includes a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence contained in SEQ ID NO:X encoding a receptor polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y, and polynucleotide having the particular sequence of SEQ ID NO:X.

Receptor polynucleotides further include a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that has at least 80% identity over its entire length to a nucleotide sequence encoding the receptor polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y, and a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that is at least 80% identical to that of SEQ ID NO:X over its entire length. In this regard, polynucleotides at least 90% identical are particularly preferred, and those with at least 95% are especially preferred. Furthermore, those with at least 97% are highly preferred and those with at least 98-99% are most highly preferred, with at least 99% being the most preferred. Also included under receptor polynucleotides are a nucleotide sequence which has sufficient identity to a nucleotide sequence contained in SEQ ID NO:X, or contained in the cDNA insert in the plasmid deposited with ATCC, to hybridize under conditions useable for amplification or for use as a probe or marker. Moreover, the receptor polynucleotide includes a nucleotide sequence having at least 80% identity to a nucleotide sequence encoding the receptor polypeptide expressed by the cDNA insert deposited at the ATCC, and a nucleotide sequence comprising at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of such cDNA insert. In this regard, polynucleotides at least 90% identical are particularly preferred, and those with at least 95% are especially preferred. Furthermore, those with at least 97% are highly preferred and those with at least 98-99% are most highly preferred, with at least 99% being the most preferred. The invention also provides polynucleotides which are complementary to all the above receptor polynucleotides.

The receptors of the invention are structurally related to other proteins of specified receptor families, as shown by the results in the Figures. The cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:X encodes a polypeptide as described in Table 1 as SEQ ID NO:Y. Because the receptor polypeptides contain domains similar in structure to other receptor family members, the receptors of the present invention are expected to have, inter alia, similar biological functions/properties to their homologous polypeptides and polynucleotides, and their utility is obvious to anyone skilled in the art.

TABLE 1 SEQ SEQ ATCC ATCC ID ID Deposit Deposit Receptor Clone ID Name NO: X NO: Y No. Date Family Homology HMACR70 1 18 209054 May 16, 1997 Ig Sialoadhesin ##### Jan. 21, 1998 OB-1 HTEDK48 209054 May 16, 1997 TM4SF MRC-OX44 PETA-3 1-1849 bp 2 160-900 bp 3 19 HTPED39 4 20 209054 May 16, 1997 TM4SF NAG-2 HPWAE25 ##### Jan. 21, 1998 TALLA-1 HTPEF86 5 21 209053 May 16, 1997 TM4SF CD20 B1 Antigen HSBBF02 6 22 209054 May 16, 1997 TM4SF TALLA-1 HLTAH80 7 23 97242 Aug. 02, 1995 TM4SF TALLA-1 209054 May 16, 1997 HTPBA27 8 24 97242 Aug. 02, 1995 TM4SF NAG-2 209054 May 16, 1997 HAIDQ59 209054 May 16, 1997 TM4SF CD9 Antigen 5′ Sequence 9 25 3′ Sequence 10 HHFEK40 11 26 209054 May 16, 1997 TM4SF PETA-3 HGBGV89 12 27 209125 Jun. 09, 1997 TM4SF L6H 209054 May 16, 1997 HUVBB80 13 28 209054 May 16, 1997 TM4SF L6 HJACE54 14 29 209053 May 16, 1997 Lectin Galectin-3 Galectin-5 Galectin-8 HROAD63 15 30 209053 May 16, 1997 Ly6 E48 splice variant HMWGS46 16 31 209053 May 16, 1997 Prohibitin BAP-37 HNFGW06 17 32 209053 May 16, 1997 EGFR EGFR

The novel full-length cDNA clone designated HMACR70 (SEQ ID NO:1) may be a member of the sialoadhesin family of the Ig superfamily of receptor-like molecules and a CD33 homologue. HMACR70 contains a 1497 nucleotide cDNA insert (SEQ ID NO: 1) encoding a 315 amino acid ORF (SEQ ID NO: 18) and was cloned from a GM-CSF-treated human macrophage cDNA library. The only additional cDNA libraries in the HGS database which include this clone are human eosinophils and possibly human gall bladder. A BLAST analysis of the amino acid sequence of HMACR70 (SEQ ID NO:18) demonstrates that this clone exhibits approximately 50% identity and 69% similarity over a 300 amino acids stretch of a gene termed human differentiation antigen, and 38% identity and 62% similarity of the human myelin-associated glycoprotein precursor CD33 gene.

A more recent BLAST analysis confirms HMACR70's (SEQ ID NO:18) designation as a sialoadhesin family member. HMACR70 (SEQ ID NO:18) is homologous to two recently identified sialoadhesin family members, human OB binding protein (OB) 1 (SEQ ID NO:33) and 2. (See, Genbank Accession No. U71382; see FIG. 1.) It is thought that OB-1 (SEQ ID NO:33) and OB-2 may bind leptin. Thus, HMACR70 (SEQ ID NO:18), as a sialoadhesin family member, may act to attenuate or even amplify intercellular routes of communication, including binding to leptin or modulating the activity of immune cells, such as macrophages. Clearly, any diseases affected by these processes could be treated by the polypeptide or fragment of HMACR70 (SEQ ID NO:18).

The full-length nucleotide sequences of ten novel human cDNA clones which potentially belong to the TM4SF superfamily are disclosed in the table above and will be addressed sequentially.

The cDNA clone HTEDK48 contains a 1849 nucleotide cDNA insert (SEQ ID NO:2) encoding a 245 amino acid ORF that was cloned from a human testes cDNA library. The coding sequence of HTEDK48 (SEQ ID NO: 3) may be fused to other human proteins, such as 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase. BLAST analysis of the amino acid sequence of HTEDK48 (SEQ ID NO:19) demonstrates that this clone exhibits approximately 30% identity and 51% similarity over a 245 amino acid stretch of the CD82 molecule. Recent studies have shown that CD82 can associate with CD4 or CD8 and deliver costimulatory signals for the TCR/CD3 pathway. CD82 has also been found to be involved in syncytium formation in HTLV-1-infected T-cells. And finally, in a recently published study in which the expression of the CD82 gene by tumors of the lung was examined retrospectively, it was reported that CD82 may be linked to the suppression of tumor metastasis of prostate cancer. The study also reported that decreased CD82 expression may be involved in malignant progression of such cancers. Thus, HTEDK48 (SEQ ID NO:2, NO:3, NO:19) may also be involved in the development of cancer.

A more recent BLAST analysis shows that HTEDK48 (SEQ ID NO:19) is homologous the rat leukocyte antigen, MRC OX-44 (SEQ ID NO:34), and the platelet endothelial tetraspan antigen-3 (PETA-3) (SEQ ID NO:35). (See FIG. 2X.) MRC OX-44 (SEQ ID NO:34), a member of a new family of cell surface proteins, appears to be involved in growth regulation. (See, Bellacosa, A., et al., “The Rat Leukocyte antigen MRC OX-44 is a Member of a New Family of Cell Surface Proteins which Appear to be Involved in Growth Regulation,” Mol. Cell. Bio. 11: 2864-2872 (1991).) Similarly, PETA-3 (SEQ ID NO:35) has been located to platelet endothelial cells, and an anti-PETA-3 antigen monoclonal antibody can stimulate platelet aggregation and mediator release. (See, Fitter, S., “Molecular Cloning of cDNA Encoding a Novel Platelet-Endothelial Cell Tetra-Span Antigen, PETA-3,” Blood, 86(4):1348-1355 (1995).) Thus, HTEDK48 (SEQ ID NO:19) may function similar to MRC OX-44 (SEQ ID NO:34) or PETA-3 (SEQ ID NO:35) to affect growth of blood cells. Administering polypeptides or fragments of HTEDK48 (SEQ ID NO:19) may be an effective treatment of blood disorders.

The cDNA clone HPWAE25 contains a 1288 nucleotide cDNA insert (SEQ ID NO:4) encoding a 273 amino acid ORF (SEQ ID NO:20) that was cloned from a human pancreas tumor cDNA library, while clone HTPED39 represents a truncated cDNA sequence. This clone also appears in a number of other cDNA libraries constructed from a variety of human cell and tissue types including keratinocytes, ulcerative colitis, striatum depression, lymph node breast cancer, ovarian cancer, stage B2 prostate cancer, kidney medulla, and others. Northern blot analysis of HLTAH80 (SEQ ID NO:23) also shows expression in a variety of human cell lines including U937, MM96, WM115, and MDAMB231. A BLAST analysis of the amino acid sequence of HTPED39 demonstrates that this clone exhibits approximately 35% identity and 50% similarity over the entire length of the CD37 molecule. The CD37 antigen is expressed on B cells and on a subpopulation of T cells, but not on pre-B or plasma cells. It has been reported that CD37 expression is downregulated in conjunction with B-cell activation, suggesting that CD37 may be involved in the processes which dictate the activation state of the B-cell.

Moreover, HPWAE25 (SEQ ID NO:20) is also homologous to recently identified TM4SF members, NAG-2 (SEQ ID NO:36) and TALLA-1 (SEQ ID NO:37). (See FIG. 3.) NAG-2 (SEQ ID NO:36) is thought to complex with integrins and other TM4SF proteins, while TALLA-1 (SEQ ID NO:37) is a highly specific marker of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and neuroblastoma. (See, Tachibana, I., et al., “NAG-2, A Novel Transmembrane-4 Superfamily (TM4SF) Protein that Complexs with Integrins and Other TM4SF Proteins,” J. Biol. Chem., 272:29181-29189 (1997); Takagi, S., “Identification of a Highly Specific Surface Marker of T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Neuroblastoma as a New Member of the Transmembrane 4 Superfamily,” Int. J. Cancer 61(5):706-715 (1995).) Thus, HPWAE25 (SEQ ID NO:20) may be involved the development of cancer, particularly leukemia, lymphoma, and neuroblastoma. HPWAE25 (SEQ ID NO:4 and NO:20) may be used as an effective treatment of these cancers, as well as a diagnostic marker.

A subfamily of TM4SF receptors include CD20 proteins. A CD20-like cDNA clone was obtained from a human pancreas tumor cDNA library and contains a 1236 nucleotide insert which encodes a 250 amino acid ORF. A BLAST analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of HTPEF86 (SEQ ID NO:21) exhibits approximately 41% identity and 61% similarity to the CD20 gene, also known as B1 antigen (SEQ ID NO:38). (See FIG. 4.) Expression of this gene is detected in only two additional HGS human cDNA libraries; amygdala depression and 9 week early stage human. Although the precise functional role of CD20 has yet to be determined, it is clear that CD20 plays a key role in the regulation of B-cell activation. Based primarily on sequence identity, the novel CD20-like molecule presented herein may also be involved in cell cycle activation. Potential therapeutic and/or diagnostic applications for HTPEF86 (SEQ ID NO:21) may include such clinical presentations as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Graves' Disease, and a number of B-cell lymphomas or other lymphoid tumors.

The clone HSBBF02 contains a 1115 nucleotide cDNA insert (SEQ ID NO:6) encoding a 245 amino acid ORF (SEQ ID NO:22) and was cloned from an HSC 172 cell line cDNA library. This clone also appears in a number of other cDNA libraries constructed from a variety of human cell and tissue types including brain amygdala depression, endothelial cells, fetal liver and heart, osteoblasts, testes, and others. A BLAST analysis of the amino acid sequence of HSBBF02 (SEQ ID NO:22) demonstrates that this clone exhibits approximately 64% identity and 80% similarity with the A15 molecule over a 131 amino acid stretch (A15 is composed of 244 amino acids). A more recent BLAST search shows that HSBBF02 (SEQ ID NO:22) is similar to the TALLA-1 protein (SEQ ID NO:37) and may in fact be a closely related family member. (See FIG. 5.)

In addition, a second cDNA clone, designated HLTAH80 (SEQ ID NO:23), exhibits sequence similarity to the A15 molecule and TALLA-1 (SEQ ID NO:37). (See FIG. 6.) This clone contains a 1662 nucleotide cDNA insert encoding a 253 amino acid ORF and was cloned from a human T-cell lymphoma cDNA library. This clone also appears in a number of other cDNA libraries constructed from a variety of human cell and tissue types including B-cell lymphoma, corpus collosum, endometrial tumor, osteosarcoma, testes, and others. Northern blot analysis of HLTAH80 (SEQ ID NO:7) also shows expression in a variety of human tissues including spleen, lymph node, thymus, PBLs, heart, and a particularly strong signal in skeletal muscle and pancreas. A BLAST analysis of the amino acid sequence of HLTAH80 (SEQ ID NO:23) demonstrates that this clone exhibits approximately 35% identity and 55% similarity over the entire length of the A15 molecule.

Since expression of A15 drops to undetectable levels when comparing immature T-cells to peripheral blood lymphocytes, it is thought that A15 may play a role in the development of T-cells. Furthermore, the MXS1 (CCG-B7) gene which codes for A15 contains a number of triplet nucleotide repeats which have been associated with neuropsychiatric diseases such as Huntington's chorea, fragile X syndrome, and myotonic dystrophy. In addition, A15 appears to be expressed exclusively on T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines, including several derived from adult T-cell leukemia and those established by immortalization with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 or Herpesvirus saimiri. Thus, clones HLTAH80 (SEQ ID NO:7 and NO:23) and/or HSBBF02 (SEQ ID NO:6 and NO:22) may also be involved in diseases caused by the expansion of repeats or chromosomal instability.

The cDNA clone HTPBA27 contains a 1345 nucleotide cDNA insert (SEQ ID NO:8) encoding a 238 amino acid ORF (SEQ ID NO:24) and was cloned from a human tumor pancreas cDNA library. This clone also appears in a number of other cDNA libraries constructed from a variety of human cell and tissue types including cerebellum, breast lymph node, osteosarcoma, adult testes, RS4; 11 bone marrow cell line, microvascular endothelial cells, and others. A BLAST analysis of the amino acid sequence of HTPBA27 (SEQ ID NO:24) demonstrates that this clone exhibits approximately 40% identity and 64% similarity with a glycoprotein termed CD53 over its entire length. CD53 is thought to be involved in thymopoiesis, since rat CD53 can be detected on immature CD4-8-thymocytes and the functionally mature single-positive subset, but cannot be detected on the intermediate CD4+8+ thymocytic subset of cells. The CD53 molecule has also been implicated as a component of signal transduction pathways in B cells, monocytes and granulocytes, rat macrophages, NK, and T cells. Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 7, HTPBA27 (SEQ ID NO:24) was recently confirmed as a TM4SF receptor. (See, Tachibana, I., et al., “NAG-2, A Novel Transmembrane-4 Superfamily (TM4SF) Protein that with Integrins and Other TM4SF Proteins,” J. Biol. Chem., 272:29181-29189 (1997).) Calling the HTPBA27 polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:24) NAG-2 (SEQ ID NO:36), this group confirmed HTPBA27's status as a TM4SF receptor by showing that NAG-2 (SEQ ID NO:36) complexes with integrin and other TM4SF receptors. Thus, diseases caused by the failure of HTPBA27 (SEQ ID NO:24) to complex with integrin and other TM4SF receptors can be treated by administering HTPBA27(SEQ ID NO:24). HTPBA27 (SEQ ID NO:8 and NO:24) can also be used to diagnose these diseases.

The cDNA clone HAIDQ59 contains cDNA insert encoding a 221 amino acid ORF (SEQ ID NO:25) that was cloned from a human epithelial cell induced with TNFa and INF cDNA library. The 5′ end of HAIDQ59 is represented by the SEQ ID NO: 9, while the 3′ end is represented by SEQ ID NO: 10. This clone appears in only two additional cDNA libraries in the HGS database. These two libraries were constructed from the human Jurkat T-cell line and human microvascular endothelial cells. A BLAST analysis of the amino acid sequence of HAIDQ59 (SEQ ID NO:25) demonstrates that this clone exhibits approximately 53% identity and 69% similarity over 226 amino acids of the CD9 TM4SF molecule (SEQ ID NO:39). (See FIG. 8.) It has been demonstrated that the CD9 molecule (SEQ ID NO:39) is involved in signal transduction pathways in platelets, as well as in cell adhesion in both platelets and pre-B-cell lines. Intriguingly, a monoclonal antibody (vpg15), which recognizes the feline homologue of CD9, has been shown to block infection by feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Furthermore, a recent study shows that cells expressing high levels of CD9 (SEQ ID NO:39) exhibited suppressed cell motility. Thus, HAIDQ59 (SEQ ID NO:25) may also be involved in signal transduction of blood cells.

The cDNA clone HHFEK40 contains a 936 nucleotide cDNA insert (SEQ ID NO:11) encoding a 252 amino acid ORF (SEQ ID NO:26) and was cloned from a human fetal heart cDNA library. This clone appears once in the human fetal heart cDNA library and possibly in a hemangiopericytoma cDNA library. A BLAST analysis of the amino acid sequence of HHFEK40 (SEQ ID NO:26) demonstrated that this clone exhibits approximately 60% identity and 75% similarity over the entire length of a molecule designated PETA-3 (SEQ ID NO:35). (See FIG. 9.) PETA-3 (SEQ ID NO:35) was originally identified as a novel human platelet surface glycoprotein termed gp27. Although PETA-3 (SEQ ID NO:35) is present in low abundance on the platelet surface, an anti-PETA-3 monoclonal antibody can stimulate platelet aggregation and mediator release. Thus, HHFEK40 (SEQ ID NO:26) may function similar to PETA-3 (SEQ ID NO:35) to affect growth of blood cells. Administering polypeptides or fragments of HHFEK40 (SEQ ID NO:26) may be an effective treatment of blood disorders.

The cDNA clone HGBGV89 contains a 738 nucleotide cDNA insert (SEQ ID NO:12) encoding a 197 amino acid ORF (SEQ ID NO:27) and was cloned from a human gall bladder cDNA library. The only two additional appearances of this clone in the HGS database are in a normalized fetal liver cDNA library and in a fetal liver/spleen cDNA library. The cDNA clone HUVBB80 contains a 1071 nucleotide cDNA insert (SEQ ID NO:13) encoding a 201 amino acid ORF (SEQ ID NO:28) and was cloned from a human umbilical vein cDNA library. This clone appears in several additional cDNA libraries in the HGS database including prostate BPH, thyroid, and fetal liver/spleen. BLAST analyses of the amino acid sequences of HGBGV89 (SEQ ID NO:27) and HUVBB80 (SEQ ID NO:28) demonstrate that these clones exhibit approximately 49% identity and 65% similarity and 47% identity and 68% similarity, respectively, over the entire length of a molecule designated L6 surface protein (SEQ ID NO:41) or human tumor-associated antigen L6 (SEQ ID NO:41) (See FIGS. 10 & 11.) Moreover, another group has confirmed the TM4SF receptor homology of HGBGV89 (SEQ ID NO:27) by describing the protein as a putative transmembrane protein L6H (SEQ ID NO:40). (See Genbank Accession No 2587054; see FIG. 10.) The L6 cell surface antigen (SEQ ID NO:41) is highly expressed on lung, breast, colon, and ovarian carcinomas. Promising results of phase 1 clinical studies have been reported with an anti-L6 monoclonal antibody, or its humanized counterpart, suggesting that the L6 antigen (SEQ ID NO:41) may be an attractive target for monoclonal antibody-based cancer therapy.

In summary, there is a clear need for identifying and exploiting novel members of the TM4SF superfamily such as those described herein. Although structurally related, these factors will likely possess diverse and multifaceted functions in a variety of cell and tissue types. Receptor type molecules, such as the novel potential members of the TM4SF superfamily detailed here, should prove useful in target based screens for small molecules and other such pharmacologically valuable factors. Monoclonal antibodies raised against such factors may prove useful as therapeutics in an anti-tumor, diagnostic, or other capacity. Furthermore, factors such as the nine novel TM4SF superfamily-like molecules described here may prove useful in an active or passive immunotherapeutical role in patients with cancer or other immunocompromised disease states.

Besides TM4SF receptors, receptors from other families are also described. For example, clone HJACE54 (SEQ ID NO: 14 and NO:29), also called galectin 11, exhibits significant sequence identity to the rat galectin 5 (SEQ ID NO:42), the chicken galectin 3 gene, and the human galectin 8 (SEQ ID NO:43) genes. (See FIG. 12.) The galectin 11 cDNA clone contains an 865 nucleotide insert (SEQ ID NO:14) which encodes a 133 amino acid ORF (SEQ ID NO:29). The clone was obtained from a Jurkat T-cell G1 phase cDNA library. A BLAST analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of HJACE54 (SEQ ID NO:29) demonstrates approximately 35% identity and 57% similarity to the amino acid sequence of the rat galectin 5 (SEQ ID NO:42) gene. Expression of galectin 11 (SEQ ID NO:14) is quite limited in the HGS database. In fact, the only two additional ESTs in the HGS database which contain the HJACE54 sequence (SEQ ID NO:14) were found in human neutrophil and human infant adrenal gland cDNA libraries. Northern blot analyses have not been performed to examine expression patterns of the galectin 11 gene (SEQ ID NO:14).

Various galectins have been shown to function in the mechanisms of intercellular communication. For example, depending on cell type, galectin 1 has been observed to modulate cell adhesion either positively or negatively. More specifically, galectin 1 appears to inhibit cell adhesion of skeletal muscle presumably by galectin 1-mediated disruption of laminin-integrin a₇b₁ interactions. Alternatively, galectin 1 appears to promote cell adhesion in several non-skeletal muscle cell types examined presumably by a glycoconjugate cross-linking mechanism. Galectin 3 has also been observed to function in modulating cell-adhesion, as well as in the activation of certain immune cells by cross-linking IgE and IgE receptors. In addition, galectins have been observed to be involved in the regulation of immune cell activity, as well as in such diverse processes as cell adhesion, proliferation, inflammation, autoimmunity, and metastasis of tumor cells. Furthermore, a galectin-like antigen designated HOM-HD-21 was recently found to be highly expressed in a Hodgkin's Disease cDNA library. Very recently, a novel galectin, termed PCTA-1, was identified as a specific cell surface marker on human prostate cancer cell lines and patient-derived carcinomas. Galectins have also been found to function intracellularly as a component of ribonucleoprotein complexes. Finally, galectins 1 and 3 have each been found to modulate T-cell growth and apoptosis by interaction with CD45 and possibly Bcl2, respectively. As a result, the discovery of a novel galectin (SEQ ID NO:29), such as that encoded by HJACE54 (SEQ ID NO:14), is likely to be a valuable asset both diagnostically and therapeutically.

Additionally, a full-length nucleotide sequence of a novel human cDNA clone which encodes an apparent splice variant of the previously described human E48 antigen has recently been determined. (See FIG. 13.) Clone HROAD63 contains a 441 nucleotide cDNA (SEQ ID NO:15) which encodes a 70 amino acid polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:30). This novel clone exhibits significant sequence identity to several members of a relatively new family of cell-surface proteins termed the Ly6 superfamily. These members include murine and human SCA-2, rat Ly-6 (also termed ThB), and human CD59 [also known as protectin or membrane attack complex inhibition factor (MACIF)]. The novel E48 splice variant (SEQ ID NO:15) was obtained from the HGS human stomach cDNA library. The clone (SEQ ID NO:30) is present in only a limited number of other HGS cDNA libraries including kidney cancer, keratinocyte, and tongue. An alignment of the nucleotide sequences of the human E48 and HROAD63 (SEQ ID NO:15) cDNAs demonstrates that the initial 168 and 178 nucleotides of E48 and HROAD63, respectively, are identical, with the exception of an additional 10 nucleotides of sequence at the extreme 5′ end of the HROAD63 sequence. The sequence of the two clones is also identical for an additional 229 nucleotides including the 3′ end of the coding sequences and the entire 3′ untranslated regions. The only divergence of nucleotide sequence in this region of the clones is the deletion of a single thymidine residue in the 3′ UTR of the E48 cDNA. The major difference between the two nucleotide sequences is a 329 nucleotide deletion from the HROAD63 sequence. This deletion causes a shift in the HROAD63 reading frame and encompasses the translational stop signal used in the E48 clone. As a result, the carboxy terminal sequence of HROAD63 (SEQ ID NO:30) is radically altered with regard to that of E48 (SEQ ID NO:44) (as illustrated in FIG. 13 by the obvious differences between amino acids 56-128 of E48 and 56-70 of HROAD63 in the amino acid alignment). The clinical presentation of disorders, including abnormal skin and hair phenotypes, may be attributed, at least in part, to a non-functional Ly6 superfamily member such as E48 (SEQ ID NO:44) or HROAD63 (SEQ ID NO:30). HROAD63 (SEQ ID NO:30) may also be involved in blood disorders, as seen with its homologues SCA-2 and CD59.

A novel prohibitin cDNA clone (SEQ ID NO:16) presented herein was originally identified in a human bone marrow cell line (RS4;11) cDNA library. The clone contains a 1066 nucleotide insert (SEQ ID NO:16) which encodes a 299 amino acid polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:31). BLAST and BestFit analyses of the predicted amino acid sequence of HMWGS46 (SEQ ID NO:31) demonstrate a highly significant sequence identity to a murine protein termed IgM B-cell receptor associated protein (BAP)-37 (SEQ ID NO:45) (Genbank accession number X78683). The HMWGS46 amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:31) exhibits nearly perfect identity and similarity over the entire length of the murine BAP-37 sequence (SEQ ID NO:45). (See FIG. 14.) In addition, the full-length nucleotide sequences of HMWGS46 (SEQ ID NO:16) and BAP-37 (SEQ ID NO:45) exhibit at least 87% identical. The HMWGS46 clone (SEQ ID NO:16) also exhibits approximately 49% sequence identity and 85% sequence similarity to a human gene designated prohibitin. Finally, the HMWGS46 cDNA (SEQ ID NO:16) appears in a substantial number of HGS human cDNA libraries in addition to the bone marrow cell line cDNA library from which it was cloned. Some of the cDNA libraries in which this clone appears include keratinocytes, induced endothelial cells, activated neutrophils, synovial sarcoma, colon carcinoma cell line, Jurkat cell line membrane bound polysomes, epileptic frontal cortex, primary dendritic cells, and a number of others. The novel gene related to prohibitin and BAP-37 (SEQ ID NO:45) may prove quite useful as a diagnostic for tumorigenesis, as well as a target for therapeutic intervention of such an event. Thus, although the precise functional role of the prohibitin family members are less than clear, it is quite likely that such homologues are involved in such complex processes as development, senescence, and tumor suppression. Therefore a novel gene, such as HMWGS46 (SEQ ID NO:16 and NO:31), may prove quite useful as a diagnostic for tumorigenesis, as well as a target for therapeutic intervention of such an event.

A human cDNA clone encoding a novel epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-like molecule (SEQ ID NO:32) is also disclosed. The novel EGFR-like cDNA clone (SEQ ID NO:17) presented herein was originally identified in an activated human neutrophil cDNA library. The clone contains a 704 nucleotide insert (SEQ ID NO:17) which encodes a 168 amino acid polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:32). A BLAST analysis of the predicted amino acid sequence of HNFGW06 (SEQ ID NO:32) demonstrates that this novel clone exhibits approximately 85% identity and 90% similarity to a protein designated epidermal growth factor receptor-related protein [Homo sapiens] (SEQ ID NO:46). (See FIG. 15.) The expression profile of the HNFGW06 clone (SEQ ID NO:17) in the HGS database indicates the existence of a fairly highly restricted expression pattern. In addition to the activated neutrophil library from which this clone (SEQ ID NO:17) was obtained, it also appears in the following HGS human cDNA libraries: synovial sarcoma, smooth muscle, placenta, and possibly primary dendritic cells.

The novel EGFR-like cDNA clone HNFGW06 (SEQ ID NO:17) may lead to a number of exciting possibilities for therapeutic and/or diagnostic treatments or reagents. For example, HNFGW06 (SEQ ID NO:17 and NO:32) may be involved in the onset of human breast cancers as well. In addition, due to the fact that TGF-a acts through binding to the EGFR (SEQ ID NO:46), it is possible that HNFGW06 (SEQ ID NO:17 and NO:32) may also play a role in a variety of gastric processes including regulation of acid secretion, regulation of mucous cell growth, and protection against ethanol- and aspirin-induced injury to gastric tissues.

Generating Polynucleotides

Polynucleotides of the present invention encoding a receptor may be obtained using standard cloning and screening, from a cDNA library derived from mRNA in cells specified in Table 1 using the expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis (Adams, M. D., et al. Science (1991) 252:1651-1656; Adams, M. D. et al., Nature, (1992) 355:632-634; Adams, M. D., et al., Nature (1995) 377 Supp:3-174.) Polynucleotides of the invention can also be obtained from natural sources such as genomic DNA libraries or can be synthesized using well known and commercially available techniques.

The nucleotide sequence encoding a receptor polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y may be identical to the polynucleotide encoding SEQ ID NO:Y, or it may be a sequence, which as a result of the redundancy (degeneracy) of the genetic code, also encodes the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y.

When the polynucleotides of the invention are used for the recombinant production of a receptor polypeptide, the polynucleotide may include the coding sequence for the mature polypeptide or a fragment thereof, by itself; the coding sequence for the mature polypeptide or fragment in reading frame with other coding sequences, such as those encoding a leader or secretory sequence, a pre-, or pro- or prepro-protein sequence, or other fusion peptide portions. For example, a marker sequence which facilitates purification of the fused polypeptide can be encoded. In certain preferred embodiments of this aspect of the invention, the marker sequence is a hexa-histidine peptide, as provided in the pQE vector (Qiagen, Inc.) and described in Gentz et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (1989) 86:821-824, or is an HA tag. The polynucleotide may also contain non-coding 5′ and 3′ sequences, such as transcribed, non-translated sequences, splicing and polyadenylation signals, ribosome binding sites and sequences that stabilize mRNA.

Further preferred embodiments are polynucleotides encoding receptor variants comprising the amino acid sequence of receptor polypeptide of Table 1 (SEQ ID NO:Y) in which several, 5-10, 1-5, 1-3, 1-2 or 1 amino acid residues are substituted, deleted or added, in any combination.

The present invention further relates to polynucleotides that hybridize to the herein above-described sequences. In this regard, the present invention especially relates to polynucleotides which hybridize under stringent conditions to the herein above-described polynucleotides. As herein used, the term “stringent conditions” means hybridization will occur only if there is at least 80%, and preferably at least 90%, and more preferably at least 95%, yet even more preferably 97-99% identity between the sequences.

Polynucleotides of the invention, which are identical or sufficiently identical to a nucleotide sequence contained in SEQ ID NO:X or a fragment thereof, or to the cDNA insert in the plasmid deposited at the ATCC, or a fragment thereof, may be used as hybridization probes for cDNA and genomic DNA, to isolate full-length cDNAs and genomic clones encoding the receptor and to isolate cDNA and genomic clones of other genes (including genes encoding homologs and orthologs) that have a high sequence similarity to the receptor gene. Such hybridization techniques are known to those of skill in the art. Typically these nucleotide sequences are 80% identical, preferably 90% identical, more preferably 95% identical to that of the referent. The probes generally will comprise at least 15 nucleotides. Preferably, such probes will have at least 30 nucleotides and may have at least 50 nucleotides. Particularly preferred probes will range between 30 and 50 nucleotides.

In one embodiment, to obtain a polynucleotide encoding the receptor polypeptide, including homologs and orthologs from other species, comprises the steps of screening an appropriate library under stringent hybridization conditions with a labeled probe having the SEQ ID NO:X or a fragment thereof; and isolating full-length cDNA and genomic clones containing said polynucleotide sequence. Such hybridization techniques are well known to those of skill in the art. Stringent hybridization conditions are as defined above or, alternatively, conditions under overnight incubation at 42° C. in a solution comprising: 50% formamide, 5×SSC (150 mM NaCl, 15 mM trisodium citrate), 50 mM sodium phosphate (pH7.6), 5×Denhardt's solution, 10% dextran sulfate, and 20 microgram/ml denatured, sheared salmon sperm DNA, followed by washing the filters in 0.1×SSC at about 65° C.

The polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention may be employed as research reagents and materials for discovery of treatments and diagnostics to animal and human disease.

Vectors, Host Cells, Expression

The present invention also relates to vectors which comprise a polynucleotide or polynucleotides of the present invention, and host cells which are genetically engineered with vectors of the invention and to the production of polypeptides of the invention by recombinant techniques. Cell-free translation systems can also be employed to produce such proteins using RNAs derived from the DNA constructs of the present invention.

For recombinant production, host cells can be genetically engineered to incorporate expression systems or portions thereof for polynucleotides of the present invention. Introduction of polynucleotides into host cells can be effected by methods described in many standard laboratory manuals, such as Davis et al., BASIC METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (1986) and Sambrook et al., MOLECULAR CLONING: A LABORATORY MANUAL, 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989) such as calcium phosphate transfection, DEAE-dextran mediated transfection, transvection, microinjection, cationic lipid-mediated transfection, electroporation, transduction, scrape loading, ballistic introduction or infection.

Representative examples of appropriate hosts include bacterial cells, such as streptococci, staphylococci, E. coli, Streptomyces and Bacillus subtilis cells; fungal cells, such as yeast cells and Aspergillus cells; insect cells such as Drosophila S2 and Spodoptera Sf9 cells; animal cells such as CHO, COS, HeLa, C127, 3T3, BHK, HEK 293 and Bowes melanoma cells; and plant cells.

A great variety of expression systems can be used. Such systems include, among others, chromosomal, episomal and virus-derived systems, e.g., vectors derived from bacterial plasmids, from bacteriophage, from transposons, from yeast episomes, from insertion elements, from yeast chromosomal elements, from viruses such as baculoviruses, papova viruses, such as SV40, vaccinia viruses, adenoviruses, fowl pox viruses, pseudorabies viruses and retroviruses, and vectors derived from combinations thereof, such as those derived from plasmid and bacteriophage genetic elements, such as cosmids and phagemids. The expression systems may contain control regions that regulate as well as engender expression. Generally, any system or vector suitable to maintain, propagate or express polynucleotides to produce a polypeptide in a host may be used. The appropriate nucleotide sequence may be inserted into an expression system by any of a variety of well-known and routine techniques, such as, for example, those set forth in Sambrook et al., MOLECULAR CLONING, A LABORATORY MANUAL (supra).

For secretion of the translated protein into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, into the periplasmic space or into the extracellular environment, appropriate secretion signals may be incorporated into the desired polypeptide. These signals may be endogenous to the polypeptide or they may be heterologous signals.

If the receptor polypeptide is to be expressed for use in screening assays, generally, it is preferred that the polypeptide be produced at the surface of the cell. In this event, the cells may be harvested prior to use in the screening assay. If the receptor polypeptide is secreted into the medium, the medium can be recovered in order to recover and purify the polypeptide; if produced intracellularly, the cells must first be lysed before the polypeptide is recovered.

Receptor polypeptides can be recovered and purified from recombinant cell cultures by well-known methods including ammonium sulfate or ethanol precipitation, acid extraction, anion or cation exchange chromatography, phosphocellulose chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, affinity chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography and lectin chromatography. Most preferably, high performance liquid chromatography is employed for purification. Well known techniques for refolding proteins may be employed to regenerate active conformation when the polypeptide is denatured during isolation and or purification.

Diagnostic Assays

This invention also relates to the use of receptor polynucleotides or polypeptides for use as diagnostic reagents. Detection of a mutated form of the receptor gene associated with a dysfunction will provide a diagnostic tool that can add to or define a diagnosis of a disease or susceptibility to a disease which results from under-expression, over-expression or altered expression of the receptor. Individuals carrying mutations in the receptor gene may be detected at the DNA level by a variety of techniques.

Nucleic acids for diagnosis may be obtained from a subject's cells, such as from blood, urine, saliva, tissue biopsy or autopsy material. The genomic DNA may be used directly for detection or may be amplified enzymatically by using PCR or other amplification techniques prior to analysis. RNA or cDNA may also be used in similar fashion. Deletions and insertions can be detected by a change in size of the amplified product in comparison to the normal genotype. Point mutations can be identified by hybridizing amplified DNA to labeled receptor nucleotide sequences. Perfectly matched sequences can be distinguished from mismatched duplexes by RNase digestion or by differences in melting temperatures. DNA sequence differences may also be detected by alterations in electrophoretic mobility of DNA fragments in gels, with or without denaturing agents, or by direct DNA sequencing. (See, e.g., Myers et al., Science (1985) 230:1242.) Sequence changes at specific locations may also be revealed by nuclease protection assays, such as RNase and S1 protection or the chemical cleavage method. (See Cotton et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (1985) 85: 4397-4401.) In another embodiment, an array of oligonucleotides probes comprising receptor nucleotide sequence or fragments thereof can be constructed to conduct efficient screening of e.g., genetic mutations. Array technology methods are well known and have general applicability and can be used to address a variety of questions in molecular genetics including gene expression, genetic linkage, and genetic variability. (See for example: M. Chee et al., Science, Vol 274, pp 610-613 (1996).)

The diagnostic assays offer a process for diagnosing or determining a susceptibility to specific diseases through detection of mutation in the receptor gene by the methods described.

In addition, specific diseases can be diagnosed by methods comprising determining from a sample derived from a subject an abnormally decreased or increased level of receptor polypeptide or receptor mRNA. Decreased or increased expression can be measured at the RNA level using any of the methods well known in the art for the quantitation of polynucleotides, such as, for example, PCR, RT-PCR, RNase protection, Northern blotting and other hybridization methods. Assay techniques that can be used to determine levels of a protein in a sample derived from a host are well-known to those of skill in the art. Such assay methods include radioimmunoassays, competitive-binding assays, Western Blot analysis and ELISA assays.

Thus in another aspect, the present invention relates to a diagnostic kit for a disease or susceptibility to a disease which comprises:

(a) a receptor polynucleotide, preferably the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X, or a fragment thereof;

(b) a nucleotide sequence complementary to that of (a);

(c) a receptor polypeptide, preferably the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y, or a fragment thereof; or

(d) an antibody to a receptor polypeptide, preferably to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: Y.

It will be appreciated that in any such kit, (a), (b), (c) or (d) may comprise a substantial component.

Chromosome Assays

The nucleotide sequences of the present invention are also valuable for chromosome identification. The sequence is specifically targeted to and can hybridize with a particular location on an individual human chromosome. The mapping of relevant sequences to chromosomes according to the present invention is an important first step in correlating those sequences with gene associated disease. Once a sequence has been mapped to a precise chromosomal location, the physical position of the sequence on the chromosome can be correlated with genetic map data. Such data are found, for example, in V. McKusick, Mendelian Inheritance in Man (available on line through Johns Hopkins University Welch Medical Library). The relationship between genes and diseases that have been mapped to the same chromosomal region are then identified through linkage analysis (coinheritance of physically adjacent genes).

The differences in the cDNA or genomic sequence between affected and unaffected individuals can also be determined. If a mutation is observed in some or all of the affected individuals but not in any normal individuals, then the mutation is likely to be the causative agent of the disease.

Antibodies

The polypeptides of the invention or their fragments or analogs thereof, or cells expressing them can also be used as immunogens to produce antibodies immunospecific for the receptor polypeptides. The term “immunospecific” means that the antibodies have substantially greater affinity for the polypeptides of the invention than their affinity for other related polypeptides in the prior art.

Antibodies generated against the receptor polypeptides can be obtained by administering the polypeptides or epitope-bearing fragments, analogs or cells to an animal, preferably a nonhuman, using routine protocols. For preparation of monoclonal antibodies, any technique which provides antibodies produced by continuous cell line cultures can be used. Examples include the hybridoma technique (Kohler, G. and Milstein, C., Nature (1975) 256:495-497), the trioma technique, the human B-cell hybridoma technique (Kozbor et al., Immunology Today (1983) 4:72) and the EBV-hybridoma technique (Cole et al., MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AND CANCER THERAPY, pp. 77-96, Alan R. Liss, Inc., 1985).

Techniques for the production of single chain antibodies (U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778) can also be adapted to produce single chain antibodies to polypeptides of this invention. Also, transgenic mice, or other organisms including other mammals, may be used to express humanized antibodies.

The above-described antibodies may be employed to isolate or to identify clones expressing the polypeptide or to purify the polypeptides by affinity chromatography.

Antibodies against receptor polypeptides may also be employed to treat diseases.

Vaccines

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for inducing an immunological response in a mammal which comprises inoculating the mammal with a receptor polypeptide, or a fragment thereof, adequate to produce antibody and/or T cell immune response to protect said animal from a disease. Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a method of inducing immunological response in a mammal which comprises, delivering a receptor polypeptide via a vector directing expression of the receptor polynucleotide in vivo in order to induce such an immunological response to produce antibody to protect said animal from diseases.

Further aspect of the invention relates to an immunological/vaccine formulation (composition) which, when introduced into a mammalian host, induces an immunological response in that mammal to a receptor polypeptide wherein the composition comprises a receptor polypeptide or receptor gene. The vaccine formulation may further comprise a suitable carrier. Since a receptor polypeptide may be broken down in the stomach, it is preferably administered parenterally (including subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, intradermal etc. injection). Formulations suitable for parenteral administration include aqueous and non-aqueous sterile injection solutions which may contain anti-oxidants, buffers, bacteriostats and solutes which render the formulation instonic with the blood of the recipient; and aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions which may include suspending agents or thickening agents. The formulations may be presented in unit-dose or multi-dose containers, for example, sealed ampoules and vials and may be stored in a freeze-dried condition requiring only the addition of the sterile liquid carrier immediately prior to use. The vaccine formulation may also include adjuvant systems for enhancing the immunogenicity of the formulation, such as oil-in water systems and other systems known in the art. The dosage will depend on the specific activity of the vaccine and can be readily determined by routine experimentation.

Screening Assays

The receptor polypeptide of the present invention may be employed in a screening process for compounds which bind the receptor and which activate (agonists) or inhibit activation of (antagonists) the receptor polypeptide of the present invention. Thus, polypeptides of the invention may also be used to assess the binding of small molecule substrates and ligands in, for example, cells, cell-free preparations, chemical libraries, and natural product mixtures. These substrates and ligands may be natural substrates and ligands or may be structural or functional mimetics. See Coligan et al., Current Protocols in Immunology 1(2):Chapter 5 (1991).

The receptor polypeptides are responsible for many biological functions, including many pathologies. Accordingly, it is desirous to find compounds and drugs which stimulate the receptor on the one hand and which can inhibit the function of the receptor on the other hand. In general, agonists are employed for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes for such conditions and diseases. Antagonists may be employed for a variety of therapeutic and prophylactic purposes for such conditions and diseases.

In general, such screening procedures involve producing appropriate cells which express the receptor polypeptide of the present invention on the surface thereof. Such cells include cells from mammals, yeast, Drosophila or E. coli. Cells expressing the receptor (or cell membrane containing the expressed receptor) are then contacted with a test compound to observe binding, or stimulation or inhibition of a functional response.

The assays may simply test binding of a candidate compound wherein adherence to the cells bearing the receptor is detected by means of a label directly or indirectly associated with the candidate compound or in an assay involving competition with a labeled competitor. Further, these assays may test whether the candidate compound results in a signal generated by activation of the receptor, using detection systems appropriate to the cells bearing the receptor at their surfaces. Inhibitors of activation are generally assayed in the presence of a known agonist and the effect on activation by the agonist by the presence of the candidate compound is observed.

Further, the assays may simply comprise the steps of mixing a candidate compound with a solution containing a receptor polypeptide to form a mixture, measuring receptor activity in the mixture, and comparing the receptor activity of the mixture to a standard.

The receptor cDNA, protein and antibodies to the protein may also be used to configure assays for detecting the effect of added compounds on the production of receptor mRNA and protein in cells. For example, an ELISA may be constructed for measuring secreted or cell associated levels of receptor protein using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies by standard methods known in the art, and this can be used to discover agents which may inhibit or enhance the production of the receptor (also called antagonist or agonist, respectively) from suitably manipulated cells or tissues. Standard methods for conducting screening assays are well understood in the art.

Examples of potential receptor antagonists include antibodies or, in some cases, oligonucleotides or proteins which are closely related to the ligand of the receptor, e.g., a fragment of the ligand, or small molecules which bind to the receptor but do not elicit a response, so that the activity of the receptor is prevented.

Thus in another aspect, the present invention relates to a screening kit for identifying agonists, antagonists, ligands, receptors, substrates, enzymes, etc. for receptor polypeptides; or compounds which decrease or enhance the production of receptor, which comprises:

(a) a receptor polypeptide, preferably that of SEQ ID NO:Y;

(b) a recombinant cell expressing a receptor polypeptide, preferably that of SEQ ID NO:Y;

(c) a cell membrane expressing a receptor polypeptide; preferably that of SEQ ID NO: Y; or

(d) antibody to a receptor polypeptide, preferably that of SEQ ID NO: Y.

It will be appreciated that in any such kit, (a), (b), (c) or (d) may comprise a substantial component.

Prophylactic and Therapeutic Methods

This invention provides methods of treating an abnormal conditions related to both an excess of and insufficient amounts of receptor activity.

If the activity of the receptor is in excess, several approaches are available. One approach comprises administering to a subject an inhibitor compound (antagonist) as described along with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in an amount effective to inhibit activation by blocking the binding of ligands to the receptor or by inhibiting a second signal, and thereby alleviating the abnormal condition.

In another approach, soluble forms of the receptor polypeptides still capable of binding the ligand in competition with endogenous receptor may be administered. Typical embodiments of such competitors comprise fragments of the receptor polypeptide.

In still another approach, expression of the gene encoding endogenous receptor can be inhibited using expression blocking techniques. Known such techniques involve the use of antisense sequences, either internally generated or separately administered. (See, for example, O'Connor, J Neurochem (1991) 56:560 in Oligodeoxynucleotides as Antisense Inhibitors of Gene Expression, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. (1988).) Alternatively, oligonucleotides which form triple helices with the gene can be supplied. (See, for example, Lee et al., Nucleic Acids Res (1979) 6:3073; Cooney et al., Science (1988) 241:456; Deivan et al., Science (1991) 251:1360.) These oligomers can be administered per se or the relevant oligomers can be expressed in vivo.

For treating abnormal conditions related to an under-expression of the receptor and its activity, several approaches are also available. One approach comprises administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound which activates the receptor, i.e., an agonist as described above, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, to thereby alleviate the abnormal condition. Alternatively, gene therapy may be employed to effect the endogenous production of the receptor by the relevant cells in the subject. For example, a polynucleotide of the invention may be engineered for expression in a replication defective retroviral vector, as discussed above. The retroviral expression construct may then be isolated and introduced into a packaging cell transduced with a retroviral plasmid vector containing RNA encoding a polypeptide of the present invention such that the packaging cell now produces infectious viral particles containing the gene of interest. These producer cells may be administered to a subject for engineering cells in vivo and expression of the polypeptide in vivo. For overview of gene therapy, see Chapter 20, Gene Therapy and other Molecular Genetic-based Therapeutic Approaches, (and references cited therein) in Human Molecular Genetics, T Strachan and A P Read, BIOS Scientific Publishers Ltd (1996).

Formulation and Administration

Peptides, such as the soluble form of receptor polypeptides, and agonists and antagonist peptides or small molecules, may be formulated in combination with a suitable pharmaceutical carrier. Such formulations comprise a therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide or compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. Such carriers include but are not limited to, saline, buffered saline, dextrose, water, glycerol, ethanol, and combinations thereof. Formulation should suit the mode of administration, and is well within the skill of the art. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical packs and kits comprising one or more containers filled with one or more of the ingredients of the aforementioned compositions of the invention.

Polypeptides and other compounds of the present invention may be employed alone or in conjunction with other compounds, such as therapeutic compounds. Preferred forms of systemic administration of the pharmaceutical compositions include injection, typically by intravenous injection. Other injection routes, such as subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intraperitoneal, can be used. Alternative means for systemic administration include transmucosal and transdermal administration using penetrants such as bile salts or fusidic acids or other detergents. In addition, if properly formulated in enteric or encapsulated formulations, oral administration may also be possible. Administration of these compounds may also be topical and/or localized, in the form of salves, pastes, gels and the like.

The dosage range required depends on the choice of peptide, the route of administration, the nature of the formulation, the nature of the subject's condition, and the judgment of the attending practitioner. Suitable dosages, however, are in the range of 0.1-100 μg/kg of subject. Wide variations in the needed dosage, however, are to be expected in view of the variety of compounds available and the differing efficiencies of various routes of administration. For example, oral administration would be expected to require higher dosages than administration by intravenous injection. Variations in these dosage levels can be adjusted using standard empirical routines for optimization, as is well understood in the art.

Polypeptides used in treatment can also be generated endogenously in the subject, in treatment modalities often referred to as “gene therapy” as described above. Thus, for example, cells from a subject may be engineered with a polynucleotide, such as a DNA or RNA, to encode a polypeptide ex vivo, and for example, by the use of a retroviral plasmid vector. The cells are then introduced into the subject.

All publications, including but not limited to patents and patent applications, cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference herein as though fully set forth. 

1. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that has at least 80% identity over its entire length to a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y; (b) a nucleotide sequence having at least 80% identity to a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide expressed by the cDNA insert deposited at the ATCC; or (c) a nucleotide sequence complementary to said isolated polynucleotide.
 2. The polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein said polynucleotide is (a).
 3. The polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein said polynucleotide is (b).
 4. The polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein said polynucleotide is (c).
 5. A method of diagnosing a disease or a susceptibility to a disease in a subject that is related to the presence of mutations in, or the production of, a nucleotide sequence, comprising collecting a sample from a subject and: (a) determining the presence or absence of a mutation in a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y in the genome of said subject; and/or (b) analyzing for the presence or amount of the nucleotide in said sample derived from said subject.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the polynucleotide is a fragment of the nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the polynucleotide fragment comprises at least 30 consecutive nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the polynucleotide fragment comprises at least 50 consecutive nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y.
 9. An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that has at least 80% identity over its entire length to an amino acid sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y.
 10. The polypeptide of claim 9, wherein the polypeptide comprises at least 30 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:Y.
 11. The polypeptide of claim 9, wherein the polypeptide comprises at least 50 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:Y. 